Gorget

About

Gorget Gorgets are the plate armor piece that protects the throat and neck: one of the most exposed targets in combat and one of the most visually prominent gaps in any armor kit. A well-fitted gorget closes the space between chest piece and helmet, shields an area that experienced fighters know to look for, and frames the head and face in a way that transforms the overall silhouette of a kit. Historically the gorget has more range than most people expect. It began as a functional steel collar in the 13th and 14th centuries, evolved into a sophisticated component of the full plate harness through the late medieval period, and later appeared as a ceremonial piece in military uniforms well into the 18th century, worn as a badge of officer rank long after it had ceased to be practical battlefield protection. Today it appears across LARP, reenactment, renfair, and fantasy costume in forms ranging from close historical reproductions to fully reimagined fantasy designs. What a Gorget Does A gorget wraps around the throat and typically extends to cover the upper chest and back of the neck, secured by straps or buckles at the side or back. A well-fitted gorget moves with the head and neck without restricting rotation: too rigid and it impedes combat mobility, too loose and it shifts and gaps under movement. In a LARP context the neck is a valid target in most combat systems, and a gorget both protects against incidental strikes and signals to opponents that the area is armored. For reenactors it is simply a necessary component of any kit from the 14th century onward: a knight going to the field without neck protection would have been considered poorly equipped by any standard of the period. From Steel Collars to Dark Fantasy: The Full Range The Landsknecht Gorget and its premium counterpart, the Landsknecht Gorget in 1.6mm steel from the Yoremade line , reference the dramatic German mercenary tradition of the 16th century. The Yoremade version is built to a heavier gauge fo